I'm a poor English teacher who can't afford to leave Shanghai for a sandy beach down south during Spring Festival. What can I do while I am stuck here? -- M.U., Zhabei District

Ah yes, according to the handy dandy Chinese fortune calendar, the Chinese New Year -- the Year of the Dog -- is just around corner (officially January 29-February 4). FYI: According to Chinese astrology, dog contains earth, metal and fire. This year's dog year is "male fire dog year," which supposedly is favorable to people whose lucky element is fire. "Fire dog" -- not to be confused with dog hot pot -- is good for people who need fire to balance their cold birth chart. Or something like that. Shanghaiist doesn't believe in Chinese astrology, either.

But, like you, we will be stuck in freezing Shanghai for Chinese New Year. And, like you, we'll be looking for things to do -- while we're not sleeping, that is. This article (in Chinese) lists a few things to do during the Spring Festival -- no how-to-wrap-up-dumplings-and-write-Chun-Lian-Red Couplets clichés included, either:

• Shanghai Wild Animals Park is going to hold a Dog Show featuring more than 20 famous species including Maltese and Pomeranian.
• Jin Mao Tower will run a Dog Photo Exhibition at the Observation Deck on the 88th floor, as well as a special dog training performance by drug sniffing dogs.
• Jin Jiang Amusement Park will offer a pet dog training show.
• Aquaria 21 at Changfeng Park will take the visitors to meet northern fur seal, which translates to "sea dog" in Chinese.
• Oriental Land is going to put out a couple of dog shaped rocking chairs for kids.
• Shanghai Science and Technology Museum will hold a series of activities such as educational speeches about dogs, a robot dog show and make your own "pottery dog."

狗年快乐 ... Gou Nian Kuai Le ... Happy Dog Year, everyone!

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